Greening – a strong opponent of a new runway at Heathrow – has been replaced by former Conservative Chief Whip Patrick McLoughlin after less than a year as transport secretary and will take over the lower profile job at international development.

Tuesday’s cabinet meeting was cancelled to allow the prime minister to deal with the reshuffle – the first major restructuring since the Conservative-Lib Dem government came to power in 2010.

The changes have not affected key figures such as Chancellor George Osborne, Home Secretary Theresa May or Foreign Secretary William Hague.

Education Secretary Michael Gove and Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith will stay in their jobs, with Downing Street saying it wanted these “strong reformers” to continue their work. (BBC)